Pairs SP

What a great competition already after one group! G/E and V/T were both great and clean! Katarina and ALexander impressed me with their great 3F throw and amazing side by side spins with wonderful unison - for any team, but even more for a new team with a partner who is new to pairs.

Mukhortova/Blanchard: their speed is improved and they are so elegant and romantic. However, they're far behind V/T element wise. THeir footwork looked very basic.

Petaykina/Kurdyukov: A nice young team. Landed 3T and a 3FTh, but their skating needs to be bigger. Amazing that that content will get you second to last place at this point.

Iliushechkina/Maisuradze: I love them, but their performance was a disaster and the score was a huge gift. She fell on the 3T and then they had to abort the SBS spins because they ran into each other. I don't think they deserve to be as high as they are.

Yes, it was, I agree, especially if you compare it with Mukhortova/Blanchard! But they were the highest ranked russian team at the GPF, they won a GP gold and they were consistent this season, so they gained some reputation

Indeed!
What was Gerboldt doing in singles all this time? :D That girl was meant to be a pairs skater! Lovely team! That 3F gave Savchenko (sp?) a run for her money.

V/T. Wow, just... wow.

Moskvina always wanted Katarina to go to pairs, I've heard she kept her eyes on her long ago... I'm so happy for them, what a beautiful skate! What Moskvina and Dmitriev did for them is just a miracle!
V/T are the best! They need a little more time, but I think they will be even better at Worlds.
Sad for I/M (( I like them so much, but so many mistakes. Anyway, I'm glad that judges gave them a chance even though their scores were too high

Yes, it was, I agree, especially if you compare it with Mukhortova/Blanchard! But they were the highest ranked russian team at the GPF, they won a GP gold and they were consistent this season, so they gained some reputation

I/m are in third with 58.68

Thanks for the score....Reputation??? What the heck? this BS is why others do not take figure skating seriously. This is a sport, they should judge what is happening on the ice.

I like a lot Katarina and Alexander, but they are still a bit stiff. But their potential is huge!! And what I really love about them is that you can sense how happy and relaxed are out there! V/T already have "champions" written all over them

Thanks for the score....Reputation??? What the heck? this BS is why others do not take figure skating seriously. This is a sport, they should judge what is happening on the ice.

Well, with a fall and an aborted spin they scored 58. In the Gp series, they barely made 60 with clean skates. So yeah, I believe reputation helped. It's nationals, they want their best skaters to represent them, so they "helped" them a bit. Tomorrow they have the oportunity to redeem themselves. It happens all the times, not just in Russia

I/M have barely any chance to qualify for worlds. Yes, their score was unfair. It should not happen at all, I agree. I'm just being subjective because I liked them a lot and I am glad they have a last chance to qualify for europeans(since V/T can not go there).